Electrical connector



Aug. 28, 1945. H. B. WHITE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Nov. 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 28, 1945. H. B. WHITE 2,383,926

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Nov. 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR ATTOR Y Patented Aug. 28, 1945 PATENT OFFICE 1 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Harry B. White, Canton, Ohio, assignor to Aircraft-Marine Products, Inc., Elizabeth, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application November 14, 1942, Serial No. 465,546

11 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical connectors and, more specifically, to a connector plug assembly adapted to lead a plurality of electrical conductors in a compact and practical manner through a partition, bulkhead, or the like.

There are many instances where electrical conductors must be brought through a partition, bulkhead, or the like and within a restricted area. The wiring for an ordinary instrument panel and its associated parts is an example. The electrical control apparatus of an airplane or of a naval vessel affords others. The conductors must in some instances be brought through airtight or watertight partitions.

In a copending application of Vernon E. Carlson, Serial No. 465,547, filed herewith, there is shown a multiple plug which permits one to in sert, remove, or replace individual connectors in the plug after it is made. Such a structure removes the necessity for clearances between the individual connectors which are necessary when one has to solder the electrical conductors to the connectors while in the plug, and, moreover, permits the use of crimped connections without requiring excessive clearances which would ordinarily have been necessary for manipulation of a crimping tool. The present invention is an improvement over said application and provides replaceable watertight or airtight connections in a practical, improved multiple assembly susceptible of mass production and of dimensions that make its use feasible in the cramped quarters of airplane cockpits, for example, or fire control towers.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide improved, multiple pin electrical connecting means. A further object is the provision of means for enabling electrical conductors to be connected in a compact and fluid-tight manner through a partition. A still further object is the provision of means for releasably locking a plurality of electrical conductors through a watertight or airtight partition. Another object of the invention is to provide improved locking means of insulating material which will present a leakage distance between adjacent contact pins which is greater than their spacing. Other ob- Jects will be in part pointed out as the description proceeds hereinafter and will in part become apparent therefrom.

The invention is realized by making use of the combined incompressible and elastic properties of material such as rubber or other elastomers, e. g., neoprene. By using terminal connector pins of special shape in combination with a connector plug which included an incompressible, elastic material between specially shaped rigid plates, it was discovered that the plug and pin could be locked together by holding the incompressible, elastic material under pressure so that it was flowed against, and engaged, portions of the pin. It was further discovered that the incompressible, elastic material while under pressure could be made to conform to various irregular surfaces and thus the creepage distance between two adjacent terminal pins could be increased. Not only did a connection so formed qualify within strength requirements for connections of this type, but also the connection was at the same time compact and completely tight against passage of air or water, so that plugs embodying the invention might safely be used in watertight or airtight partitions such as are commonly found, for example, in ordnance and naval installations; moreover, by releasing the pressure on the elastic material, the pins can be removed for connecting to a wire or for rearrangement in the plug or for replacement.

In this specification and the accompanying drawings I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention and various modifications thereof; but it is to be understood that these are not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but, on the contrary, are given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the purposes thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify and adapt it in various forms each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In these drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout and in which exemplary embodiments for attaining the above objectives are set forth:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a connector plug taken along the line l-l of Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 2 is an elevational view. partly in section, of the connector plug of Figure 1 taken along the line 2--2 in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view of a modified form of connector plug shown in assembly with associated parts;

Figure 4 is an elevational sectional view of another type of connector plug;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the irregular line -0 of Figure Figure 'l' is an elevational sectional view of a further modification of a connector plug;

Figure 8 is a view taken along the line 8-8 of the connector plug of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is an edge view of the connector plug as illustrated in Figure 8.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a multiple pin type connector plug indicated generally by 2! is shown. In practical use such plugs may have a large number of contact pins crowded into the area of the plug, but for purposes of clearer showing the plug is shown with only two pins spaced sufficiently to avoid confusion of lines on the drawing. Plug 2| consists of a socket plate 2!, a socket plate 22, a gland or sealing member 24 therebetween, and a clamping means, indicated generally by 4|, holding the two socket plates in compression upon the gland. Plates 2| and 22 may be made of Bakelite or other appropriate insulating material and gland 24 may be made of rubber, neoprene, or other relatively elastic, incompressible fluid. Clamping means 40 in the present device takes the form of a removable metal snap-band, channel shaped in cross section, which is sprung onto the socket plates after they have been pressed together, as illustrated in Figure 2. Snap-band II is split at 45 (see Figure 1) so that the band may be spread open and put around plates 2i and 22 during assembly.

Figure 2 also illustrates connector pins 30, which include a contact end 3|, a ferrule end 32, and an intermediate lock portion 33. In the instant embodiment the lock portion finds itself in the form of a section of reduced diameter between two shoulders. The pins also are provided with insulating sleeves ll permanently secured thereto. These sleeves are made of suitable insulating material such as Spauldite, for example, and by extending across the surface of the plate 22 serve to increase the electrical creepage distance between adjacent pins, as brought out more fully and claimed in the application of Stephen N. Buchanan, Serial No. 465,545, filed herewith.

Before the parts of the plug are assembled pins 30 may easily be slipped through aligned openings 29 in the plates and gland. Thereafter, when the plates are squeezed together and locked in place by clamping means 40, the relatively elastic, incompressible fluid of gland 24 fills the entire space between plates 2i and 22 and is extruded into the lock portions 33. Because the gland is incompressible and since there is no unoccupied space between the socket plates into which the gland may flow for relief, once the pins have been inserted into the plug and the clamping means has been applied thereto it is no longer possible to withdraw the pins from the plug because of the shoulders of the lock portions. Even without the groove 33 in the lock portion, however, the pins would be securely held by friction of the compressed gland in the region generally indicated by numeral 21. Furthermore, since the gland is proportioned so that it completely occupies all space between the socket plates, the gland forms a tight seal around each of the pins and across the plug itself so that at the same time it both locks the pins within the plug and forms a seal across the plug which is completely fluid-tight.

Plate 22 is provided with annular ridges 38 Ill) which aid in squeezing the gland into the lock aaeaeae portions of the pin and simultaneously serve to increase the electrical creepage distance across the surface of the plate and gland from one pin to another. Socket plate 2| may correspondingly be ridged, or grooved, if desirable.

The pins illustrated are of the same general type as those disclosed and claimed in the aforementioned copending application of Vernon E. Carlson. As brought out more fully in said application, these pins are intended to be crimped or soldered to electrical conductors before they are inserted in the plugs so that no space need be left at the plugs to allow for crimping or soldering. In addition, the sleeves 31 and ridges 38 afford increased creepage distances so that the pins may be safely connected in a compact and practical manner.

Figure 3 discloses a modified type of connector plug embodying the invention and shows the fashion in which such a plug ordinarily will be used in a housing for easy mounting in a partition or bulkhead. The housing, indicated generally by l0, commonly is made of aluminum and includes a mounting flange II, a skirt l2 and a barrel l3. In use the skirt is inserted through an opening in the partition and flange ll is bolted, or otherwise secured, to the partition. A connector plug is then insertqi into the barrel against rim l4 and held in place by an assembling snap ring l6, which fits into an annular groove IS in the barrel.

The plug, indicated generally by 2041, comprises a socket plate Ila, a socket plate 22a, and a clamping means, indicated generally by 42a. A retaining cup 25:; is fitted over one face of socket plate 2la and is arranged to hold gland 24a in engagement with the face of socket plate 2la. The gland and socket plates are provided with aligned openings 29a and gland 24a is provided with nub 28a surrounding the opening 210 in the gland. A pin 30a is shown locked within the plug. For clearness of illustration, only one pin has been shown; in practice, however, a number of pins, depending upon the installation at hand, would be received by each plug.

Pin 30a is provided with a sleeve Ila which, in turn, is provided with tangs 33a. Tangs 33a are shown in abutment against a locking means consisting of a plate 34a. The pin is locked within the plug by slipping the tangs through draw slots (not shown) in the plug and twisting the pin to disalign the tangs and draw slots. A friction disc 46 is positioned between socket plate 2la and locking plate 34a; disc 48 in the present embodiment is formed from a pressed fibrous material and performs the function of frictionally engaging pin 30a so as to prevent it from rotating unintentionally to the unlocked position.

The face of socket plate 2la which opposes the gland is recessed around opening 200 to form a taper away from the gland, and the gland is provided with a conically shaped projection which fits into and fills the tapered recess in the face of the socket plate. When a pin 30a is locked within plug 20a, the contact end Ila projects to the left, as shown in Figure 3, beyond nub 28a. Hence, when the mating terminal contact pin is positioned over end Sla and pushed against the plug, nub 28a is pressed into the face of socket plate Ila and the conically shaped projecting portion of the gland is forced into the taper and, therefore, against the shank of pin 300. In this way a fluid-tight seal is made between gland 24a. and the pin. In addition, nub

assspae "a serves to increase the electrical creepage distance between the pin and any adjacent pin. In like fashion the projecting sleeve Ila on the opposite side of the plug increases the electrical creepage distance between the pin and any other adjacent pin.

A housing washer 39a is shown between rim ll in the housing and the plug. Washer 38a is made of rubber, neoprene, or the like, and is maintained under compression by assembling snap ring II and will be further compressed by pressure of the female plug against the cup 25a, so that a fluid-tight seal is formed running around the plug and between the plug and the housing. Hence, a fluid-tight seal is made across the entire housing between the spaces within barrel II and skirt l2 so that the invention may be used safely in a watertight or airtight partition without weakening the partition or causing any leaks therein. The plug has the advantage, in addition, that it may readily be removed simply by removing the assembling snap ring it, and the various pins may be withdrawn from the plug individually to'allow, for example, for rearranging the wiring circuits.

' A plug complementary to that indicated at a is shown within skirt l2 carrying a female pin in operative engagement with contact end lid of pin 30a. The present complementary plug is similar in its structure to plug 20a, but it may follow other constructions, such as that shown in Figure 2, for example. An annular clamping nut Ila is threaded onto the skirt I! to press the female plug against the cup a and the gland 28a.

Referring to Figures 4 through 6, another embodiment of the invention is set forth. The housing arrangementand gland are similar to those illustrated in Figure 3. A modified locking means 26b is used according to my invention. This locking means may also serve as an additlonal sealing means for the pin. The locking means 26b may be made of rubber, neoprene, or other suitable material.

In these figures. as with others, although only one pin is shown, it is anticipated that a plurality of pins will be used in each plug.

Pinlllb is provided with tangs 33b which, as shown in Figure 6, fit into seats 34b within socket plate 22b and when seated in seats 34b the pin cannot be rotated in the plug. In order to remove pin 30b from the plug 20b it must first be moved inwardly with respect to plate 22b to disengage the tangs 33b from seats 34b and then rotated counterclockwise with respect to socket plate 22b. Such movement may be accomplished by removing the locking snap ring 42:; from the clamping means b and thereby allowing axial movement between the pin tlb and the socket plate'nb and at the same time separating plate 12": and "D so as to allow tangs 33b to rotate between them. Thereafter the tangs may be moved out of the tang seats and pin 80b may be turned in a counterclockwise direction. as viewed from the ferrule end, and withdrawn from the plug through draw slots lib.

The locking snap ring 42b, together with clamp ing means lllb, serves to hold socket plates 2Ib and 22b in engagement, and when the socket plates are in engagement, the locking washer 26b is held under compression so as to lock the tangs lib within the seats 34b and at the same time form an effective seal around the central portion of pin 30b within the plug. If desired, this seal may be relied upon entirely and the gland 20b omitted. A bearing washer 36b separates sealing washer 28b from tangs 33b seats 34b, and draw slots "b.

Figures '7 through 9 illustrate a further modification of connector plug embodying the invention. It differs from the embodiment shown in Figures 4 through 6 by the omission of the gland 24b, as suggested above, and the substitution for clamping means 40b and locking snap ring 4212 of a bayonet type locking means, indicated generally by 400, comprising ears 0 on the clamping band which fit through slots c in socket plate 22c and thereafter slide upon ramps lie when socket plate 220 is turned clockwise with respect to ears 0. As the ears 0 slide up the ramp llc the socket plates He and Me are drawn together to squeeze sealing washer 26c between the socket plates and around the pin.

In the embodiments shown the various terminal connector pins have been provided with lock portions to lock the pins within the plugs. In most instances such lock portions will not be necessary because when the glands and/or sealing washers are pressed against a perfectly smooth pin the resulting seal is so tight that, for ordinary purposes, the pin will not slip in the plug. Furthermore, the various embodiments depicted are not drawn to scale. The size of each plug will depend upon the installation for which it is intended. The wire sizes accommodated ordinarily will range about from No. 00 to N0. 16 but, obviously, the application of the invention is not limited to this range. In addition, it is within the scope of the invention to supply plugs having a greater number of openings therein than there are pins and conductors to be accommodated in the original assembly and plugging the additional openings, until they may be required, with dummy pins, or standard pins unattached to any electrical conductors.

As many modifications may be made of the invention and as many changes in the embodiments set forth will be necessitated for the many adaptations to which the invention may be put, protection is not intended to be limited to the invention as described in the specification or drawings, but rather is to be limited solely by the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. In an electrical connection, a connector plug and a terminal contact pin; said plug including a pair of socket plates, an elastic gland located between said socket plates and spacing them apart, said socket plates and said gland being fitted with aligned openings suitable to receive said pin, and clamping means for maintaining said socket plates squeezed together on said gland; and said pin including a ferrule end adapted to be permanently attached to an electrical conductor, a contact end adapted to project through said plug, and a lock portion adapted to receive and be tightly embraced by extruded edge portions of the opening in said gland when said gland is squeezed between said socket plates, whereby said pin may be permanently attached to an electrical conductor and thereafter may be locked within said plug with said gland forming a tight seal around said pin and across said plug- 2. In an electrical connection, a connector plug and a plurality of terminal contact pins; said plug including a pair of socket plates and an elastic gland located between said socket plates and spacing them apart, said socket plates and said gland being fitted with aligned openings suitable to receive said pins, one of said socket plates having ridges around the openings therein to increase electrical creepage distance, and clamping means for maintaining said socket plates squeezed together on said gland; and said pins each including a ferrule end adapted to be permanently attached to an electrical conductor, a contact end adapted to project through the plug, and a lock portion adapted to receive and be tightly embraced by extruded edge portions of an opening in said gland when said gland is squeezed between said socket plates, whereby said pins may be permanently attached to electrical conductors and thereafter may be locked within said plug with said gland forming a tight seal around said pins and across said plug and with said ridges of said one socket plate pressing into said gland and providing increased creepage distance between adjacent pins.

3. In an electrical connection, a connector plug and a terminal contact pin; said plug including a socket plate and an elastic gland having aligned openings therein fitted to receive said pin, said socket plate including means for locking the pin in the plug and said gland including a nub concentric with said opening; and said pin including a ferrule end adapted to be permanently attached to an electrical conductor, a contact end adapted to project through said socket plate, gland and nub, and an intermediate lock portion adapted to cooperate with said locking means to lock said pin within said plug, whereby said pin may be attached to an electrical conductor and thereafter may be inserted into and locked within said plug with said contact end projecting beyond said nub so that a mating electrical terminal contact member may be pushed onto said pin and against said nub to squeeze said nub against said pin and socket plate and to provide a tight seal around said pin and across said plug.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the opening in the socket plate is tapered away from the gland and hub and wherein the gland includes a conically shaped projection adapted to fit into the taper so that when the mating electrical terminal contact member presses against the nub the projection on the gland is wedged into the taper and against the pin.

5. In an electrical connection, a connector plug and a terminal contact pin; said plug including an elastic gland, a nub on said gland, a pair of socket plates, an elastic washer between said socket plates, aligned openings fitted to receive said pin through said gland, nub, plates and washer and means for clamping said socket plates together and squeezing said washer therebetween; and said pin including a ferrule end adapted to be permanently attached to an electrical conductor, a terminal contact end adapted to project through said plug, and an intermediate lock portion adapted to engage with said plug to lock said pin within said plug, whereby said pin may be attached to an electrical conductor and thereafter may be locked within said plug with said contact end projecting beyond said nub of said plug, and whereby said clamping means may squeeze said washer between said plates to extrude edges of the opening in said washer tightly against said Pin.

6. The invention 0! claim 5 wherein said clamping means includes a clamping band and a locking snap ring.

'7. The invention of claim 5 wherein said lock portion on said pin comprises tangs and said plug comprises draw slots and tang seats adapted to receiv and cooperate with said tar is on said pin.

8. In an electrical connection, a connector plug and a terminal contact pin; said plug including a pair of socket plates, an elastic washer between said socket plates, aligned openings fitted to receive said pin through said washer and socket plates and means for clamping said socket plates together and squeezing said washer therebetween; and said pin including a ferrule end adapted to be permanently attached to an electrical conductor, a terminal contact end adapted to project through said plug, and an intermediate lock portion adapted to engage with said plug to lock said pin within said plug, whereby said pin may be attached to an electrical conductor and thereafter may be locked within said plug with said contact end projecting beyond said plug, and whereby said clamping means may queeze said washer between said plates to extrude edges of the opening in said washer tightly against said pin.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said clamping means includes a clamping band carrying bayonet type ears and one of said socket plates includes a ramp on which said ears are to operate.

10. The invention of claim 8 wherein said lock portion on said pin comprises tangs and said plug comprises draw slots and tang seats adapted to receive and cooperate with said tangs on said p n.

11. In an electrical connection, a connector plug and a terminal contact pin; said plug in cluding a pair of socket plates, an elastic, de-

formable locking means between said socket plates, aligned openings fitted to receive said pin through said locking means and socket plates, and means for clamping said socket plates to gether and squeezing said locking means therebetween; and said pin including a ferrule end adapted to be permanently attached to an electrical conductor, a terminal contact end adapted to project through said plug, and an intermediate portion adapted to engage with said locking means to lock said pin within said plug, whereby said pin may be attached to an electrical conductor and thereafter may be locked within said plug with said contact end projecting beyond said plug, and whereby said clamping means may squeeze said locking means between said plates vto grip the pin securely by extruding tightly against said pin.

HARRY B. WHITE. 

